China first in Haiti: the US second

by peter.reardon | January 16, 2010 at 05:30 pm

1821 views | 39 Recommendations | 12 comments

peter.reardon on the politics behind humanitarian aid to Haiti:

In a surprisingly deft political move the Chinese government outflanked the American government by providing the first foreign-aid to Haitian earthquake victims.

American armed forces quickly took control of the airport and its control tower and it might be seen to be somewhat churlish of the Americans if they attempted to restrict the Chinese ‘aid-volunteers’ from providing supplies in its continuing support with its humanitarian work to the earthquake devastated island nation: Co-operation must be seen to be taking place.

While the Chinese authorities are keeping modestly silent in their humanitarian work the American administration is loudly re-writing history, or attempting to do so. Disregarding past attempts by the US to keep the Haitian people in a permanent state of impoverishment.

“What You're Not Hearing about Haiti (But Should Be)” published in CommonDreams January 14, 2010; Carl Lindskoog wrote about the devastating social and humanitarian pain of earlier, less humanitarian interference in the tiny island country.

It may startle news-hungry Americans to learn that these conditions the American media correctly attributes to magnifying the impact of this tremendous disaster were largely the product of American policies and an American-led development model here

On the other hand China brings other agenda behind the inscrutable smile of benevolence: the desire for land; for agriculture, manufacturing, and dominance of a society already used to domination by American controlled politicians. Haiti would also be compatible with China’s other land purchases in some Latin American countries.

However, there appears to be an irony according to Antoaneta Bezlova writing for Inter Press Service News Agency IPS regarding the nervousness of the US about China’s growing footprint across Africa:

During the bilateral talks held between July 27 and July 29, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner both called upon China to increase cooperation with the US in assisting developing countries. here

Meanwhile, President Obama is his version of history regarding the “long history of friendship” that has existed between the people of Haiti and all people in the United States”. Bill Van Auken throws light on the the historic reality of the presidential fiction:

In his statement on the Haitian earthquake Wednesday, President Barack Obama referred to the “long history that together.” Neither he nor the US media, however, have shown any inclination to probe the history of US-Haiti relations and its bearing on present catastrophe confronting the Haitian people. Read “The history that “binds” the US and Haiti” here

As of this writing I learned that George W. Bush has been recruited by President Obama to assist in the “management”of the Haiti tragedy.
Apparently his skilled leadership in dealing with the hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans four years ago is his domestic experience in ‘swift and decisive action’.

My heart weeps in sympathy for the people still waiting in New Orleans for government intervention for assistance, and to those in Haiti who will undoubtedly have a new cause to add to their current pain and suffering.

With George Bush as one of “two advisers” to President Obama, the other being former president Bill Clinton, the dynamic of Chinese aid delivery sounds like a better option for the people of Haiti. (END)

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stejeb

at 17:39 on January 16th, 2010

Very good article raising some very pertinent points, thank you Peter.

The thought of Bush being put in charge of anything that might require decision making or speed of response is frightening, it remains to be seen if he will even understand what he has been tasked with, and please don't get him to make a statement, it can be so embarassing when he opens his mouth.

peter.reardon

at 18:23 on January 16th, 2010

Thanks for your support stejeb.

Sadly, your comments are appropriate.

I winced a number of times as I wrote the story recalling my past contracts in the humanitarian field. A 'Bush' type of programme director could be a bottleneck to quick action to help people in distress. Although, I must say, I never met a bureaucrat quite like him.

Peter

Karen Hatter

at 18:57 on January 16th, 2010

Thank you for this post, Peter. Good to see you!

Rhonda J Mangus

at 21:36 on January 16th, 2010

Thank you for an informative post, peter.

MsheArt2

at 22:58 on January 16th, 2010

Very informative, thank you, peter.reardon.

Uwe Paschen

at 23:01 on January 16th, 2010

In order to have an understanding of the current crisis one requires a sense of Haiti’s history. In the 18th century it became France’s most valuable colonial possession, and one of the most brutally efficient slave colonies there has ever been. Santo Domingo, as it was then called, was the leading port of call for slave ships: on the eve of the French Revolution, it was supplying two-thirds of all of Europe’s tropical produce. A third of new arrivals died within a few years.Aristide accused the U.S. of orchestrating a coup against him. He was forced into exile and eventually settled in South Africa. Haitian investigators have accused Aristide of extensive embezzlement and money laundering. Aristide has forcefully denied these accusations.

Aristide’s elevation from slum priest to presidential candidate took place against a background of right-wing death squads and threatened military coups. He rose quickly in the eyes of Haitians, but his stock plummeted in the United States. The New York Times, which relies heavily on informants who can speak English or French, had few kind words for him. ‘He’s a cross between the Ayatollah and Fidel,’ one Haitian businessman was quoted as saying. ‘If it comes to a choice between the ultra-left and the ultra-right, I’m ready to form an alliance with the ultra-right.’ Haitians knew, however, that Aristide would win any democratic election, and on 16 December 1990, he got 67 per cent of the vote in a field of 12 candidates. No run-off was required.

The United States may not have been able to prevent Aristide’s landslide victory, but there was plenty they did do to undermine him. The most effective method, adopted by the first Bush administration, was to fund both the opposition – their poor showing at the polls was no reason, it appears, to cut off aid to them – and the military. Declassified records now make it clear that the CIA and other US groups helped to create and fund a paramilitary group called FRAPH, which rose to prominence after a military coup that ousted Aristide in September 1991. Thousands of civilians were killed and hundreds of thousands fled overseas or across the border into the Dominican Republic. For the next three years Haiti was run by military-civilian juntas as ruthless as the Duvaliers.

Karen Hatter

at 06:42 on January 17th, 2010

Very good additional, contextual information, Uwe.

MsheArt2

at 23:04 on January 16th, 2010

Informative, thought provoking & saddening

Iffy (not verified)

at 10:49 on January 18th, 2010

America is the Ike Turner of global aid: "Oh, baby, baby - it's different this time, I swear! I care! Honest baby!"And then it is back to the abuse and neglect. The best for emergency aid in the world are the Israelis and the Chinese and the French. And that is the facts.

peter.reardon

at 16:58 on January 18th, 2010

Thanks for reading my submission.

peter.reardon

fili (not verified)

at 00:09 on January 21st, 2010

lets look at some facts asshole. when katrina hit america, china donated 4 million dollars. when earthquake hit china, u fonated 400,000 dollars. yes thats right...HALF A MILLION FUCKIN DOLLARS. and u are suppose to be the fuckin richest country on earth with the largest economy. this is obviously a political move by the americans and for obama to win votes. fuckin american hypocrites. take a good look in the mirror before u chat shit about china

merlingraycat

at 00:51 on January 21st, 2010

If all you people who are griping and complaining about the United States handing out much needed money at home, to other countries in need, would contribute some of your own money and stop griping, we would all be a lot better off. Something like China did.